Lock for hinged rack

ABSTRACT

A rack for heavy equipment is hinged on a post and the lock is secured therebetween. A finger extends from the rack into an opening in the post and engagement means secures the finger with respect to the post to lock the rack with respect thereto. In the preferred embodiment, the finger is a curved channel having openings in its web and the engagement means is a plunger which selectively engages the web openings.

United States- Patent Drake [541 LOCK FOR HINGED RACK 1 May 23,1972

2,024,039 12/1935 Harting ..16/144 UX 2,730,322 l/l956 Haberland et a1..21 l/169 X 3,468,429 9/1969 Drake ..211/169 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 27,638 3/1932 Netherlands 16/144 8,400 6/1900 Norway ..16/144 Primary ExaminerRamon S. Britts Attorney-Allan M. Shapiro ABSTRACT Arack for heavy equipment is hinged on a post and the lock is securedtherebetween. A finger extends from the rack into an opening in the postand engagement means secures the finger with respect to the post to lockthe rack with respect thereto. In the preferred embodiment, the fingeris a curved channel having openings in its web and the engagement meansis a plunger which selectively engages the web openings.

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LOCK FOR HINGED RACK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of theInvention This invention is directed to a lock for a hinged rack and,particularly, a lock which can hold or retain a hingedlymounted rack forheavy equipment in any desired position.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heavy equipment is employed in manydifferent situations. In a number of these situations, maintenancerequirements call for access to both sides of the equipment. Such isespecially true when the equipment is electrical in nature, and electricconnections or components are accessible from both sides of theequipment. Thus, the equipment is mounted in a hinged rack so that theequipment may be hingedly swung for access to both sides thereof. Inlaboratories where racks of electronic equipment are employed, andparticularly in telephone situations wherein switching relays and othercomponents necessary for telephonic communication are secured into rackconfiguration, such panels are most convenient and space-saving whenhingedly mounted. Especially in the telephone field where auxiliaryequipment is employed in connection with terminal wiring, reliability isso great that access to the equipment is not often required, but isusually required only for reconnection of subscribers telephones. Thus,equipment can be positioned in such a manner that it is close to anadjacent wall to conserve floor space and still have the side toward thewall available for access through the employment of hinges on the rackof the telephone equipment. By this means, equipment may be swung outfrom the wall for access to the back thereof, and swung back to the wallfor conservation of space. Such a hinged equipment rack is exemplifiedby that disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,468,429 entitled TelephonicEquipment Rack.

While the rack of heavy equipment described with respect to thisinvention is a hinged rack of telephone equipment because of itsparticular utility therewith, it is clear that the lock for the hingedrack of this invention will have comparable utility with racks of asimilar nature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to aid in the understanding of thisinvention, it can be stated in essentially summary form that it isdirected to a lock for a hinged rack. The rack is hingedly mounted on apost. The lock comprises a finger which is mounted upon the rack andextends into an opening in the post. Post-mounted engagement means locksthe finger with respect to the post, thus locking the rack with respectto the post. In the preferred embodiment, the finger has openingstherein and the engagement means engages in the openings. In furtherdetail, the preferred embodiment comprises an arcuate finger havingholes therethrough, and the engagement means on the post is a plungerwhich engages the holes.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a lock for ahinged rack, and particularly a hinged rack of heavy equipment so thatthe heavy equipment rack may be locked in any desired position. It isanother object to provide a lock having a finger and a body, with thefinger and the body attached to the rack and to the post on which therack is hinged. It is a further object of this invention to provide fora finger secured to the rack and engagement means secured to the post sothat, when the engagement means engages the finger, the rack issecured'with respect to the post. It is still another object to providea finger which has holes therein, and the engagement means selectivelyengages a hole to lock the finger with respect to the post. It is afurther object to provide a plunger which selectively engages in theholes in the finger to selectively lock the finger with respect to thepost. It is another ob- I ject to provide another embodiment wherein thelock finger is in the form of an unperforated arcuate rod secured to therack. It is still another object of this invention to provide a lockbody which has a loop therein, which loop engages around the lock fingerso that, upon tightening of the loop, the

finger is restrained. It is still another object to provide the loop inthe form of an eyebolt with means to tighten the eyebolt upon thefinger.

Still other objects, features and attendant advantages of the presentinvention, together with various modifications, will become apparent tothose skilled in theart from a reading of the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiments constructed in accordancetherewith, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings whereinlike numerals designate like parts in the several figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view ofa hinged rack, showing the first embodiment of the lock of thisinvention in association therewith.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section through the rack and associatedpost taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2, but taken along the line3-3 in FIG. 1 and showing the lock with the hinged rack in another hingeposition.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view, further enlarged and with parts broken awayand sectioned, of the first embodiment of the lock of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view as seen from the left in FIG. 4,partly broken away and sectioned.

FIG. 6 is a section of the lock taken substantially along the line 6-6of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged front elevational view of a suitable hinge betweenthe rack and the post, useable with the lock of this invention, as seengenerally along the line 7-7 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal section through a part of the rack and throughthe post, showing the preferred embodiment of the lock of thisinvention.

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view, with parts broken away, takengenerally along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view, with parts broken away, similar toFIG. 9, showing a third embodiment of the lock of this invention.

FIG. 1 1 is a horizontal section taken generally along the line 11-11 ofFIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, andparticularly to FIG. 1 initially, the first embodiment of the lock ofthis invention is generally indicated at 10. Lock 10 is particularlyuseful for the securement into angular position of a rack which ismounted in hinged fashion upon a fixed frame or post. In the presentcase, rack 12 is a rack of telephone equipment, which may includerelays, ringing timers, tenninal boards and the like, and is of the typeillustrated in said copending application. Rack 12 has upright framemembers 14 and 16 which define the sides of the rack. As is illustrated,frame member 14 is mounted to post 18 by means of hinges 20 and 22.Thus, rack 12 is hingedly mounted with respect to post 18 upon the axisof hinges 20 and 22.

Lock 10 comprises finger 24 and locking means, or lock body 26. Finger24 is a metal rod of generally circular cross section. It is curvedthrough most of its length to lie substantially in an arc around thepivot axis of hinges 20 and 22. One end of finger 24 is secured by meansof screw 28 to the web 15 of frame member 14. A clearance hole for screw28 is formed in the web 15 of frame member 14, and screw 28 passestherethrough. The adjacent end of finger 24 is threaded so that screw 28is threadably engaged therein to secure finger 24 against the outersurface of frame member web 15. Accordingly, finger 24 moves with rack12 in its rotative motion about the axis of hinges 20 and 22.

Lock body 26 is preferably formed from flat sheet material into arectangular box by appropriate cutting and bending. As best seen inFIGS. 4, 5 and 6, lock body 26 is formed of top 30 from which dependsides 32 and 34 and ends 36 and 38. At least the two sides 32 and 34 andtop end 36 have outwardly extending flanges or feet, respectivelyindicated at 40, 42 and 44. These flanges have openings therethrough bywhich the lock body can be secured to post 18 by the application ofsuitable fasteners such as screws or bolts.

Positioned interiorly of the rectangular box, which forms the outerdefinition of the lock body, is clamp block 46. Clamp block 46 has aslot 48 therein. Hole 50 extends from the bottom of slot 48 through thelower part of the clamp block 46. Clamp 52 is in the form of an eyebolthaving an eye at its upper end and a straight shank which is threaded atits outer end. Clamp 52 is positioned so that a portion of its eyeextends into slot 48, while its straight shank extends through hole 50in block 46. Furthermore, its straight shank extends through an openingin end 38 of the rectangular box portion of the lock body. Nut 54 isthreadedly engaged with the threaded portion of the shank of clamp 52.As indicated, nut 54 is preferably a wing nut or some other type of nutwhich is conveniently finger operable by the user of the equipment.

The size of the eye on clamp 52 is larger than the diameter of finger 24and so related thereto that, when the eye embraces the finger, as isshown in FIGS. 4 and 5, tightening of nut 54 draws the eye into slot 48to clamp the finger 24 against the side of clamp block 46. Thistightening causes clamping of the finger with respect to the block andthus causes clamping between frame member 14 and hinge post 18. Thus,the rack 12 is clamped into position by the'tightening of nut 54.Additionally, it must be noted that, since the eye on clamp 52 engageson finger 24 throughout the entire hinge motion, the clamp is efi'ectiveat any angular position between the frame and its hinge post 18.

Finger 24 is illustrated as extending 90 to permit the clamping of rack12 at any position within the limits of a right angle, but it is equallyclear that finger 24 can be extended for a further length to provide forclamping over an additional angle. 90 is chosen as an end limit forfinger 24 because such is normally the practical limit for the swingingof a rack 12. Since the rack 12 is conventionally an electrical rack,the wires interconnecting the components on the rack with stationarilymounted components or cables on the stationary structure, limitpractical motion to a maximum of 90. For this reason, in thisembodiment, this is a reasonable and practical limit of motion.Furthermore, FIG. 3 illustrates that hinge post 18 is a rectangulartube. An opening in the side wall of the tube permits finger 24 to entertherethrough when the rack is swung to the position shown in FIG. 2.However, the side of post 18 limits the length of the finger toapproximately the 90 limits heretofore described. This is a practicallimit of swing but, if more swing is required, a hole can be located inthe post to accommodate a longer finger.

Nut 54 is accessible for clamping of clamp 52 against the block 46 fromone side of the structure. In order to provide further versatility, theclamp can also be engaged by application of bolt 56 in the other side ofthe clamp body. Bolt 56 preferably is provided with a slotted hex head57 and is suitably threaded through nut 58, which is in the form of ablock suitably secured inside one end of the lock body. The free end 59of bolt 56 engages abuttingly against the eye of clamp 52. Thus, bytightening bolt 56, which serves as an operating rod, the clamp 52 againengages upon finger 24 to lock the finger in relative position forlocking the hinged rack with respect to the post on which it is hinged.

In view of the fact that a locking force applied by bolt 56 has atendency to separate and bend up top panel 36, the top panel has aflange foot 44 thereon which has holes therein for the securement ofthat flange with respect to post 18, and thus with respect to theremainder of lock body 26. As is seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, securing means,such as screws or bolts engaging through flanges 40 and 42, secure thelock body to post 18. It is additionally seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 thatsuitable securing means through the openings in flange 44 secure thisportion also to post 18. By this means, rigid structure is obtained bywhich clamping with bolt 56 is feasible. Thus, when clamp bolt 56 istightened for firm tightening of the eye on finger 24, no

spreading of the structure occurs because the relative parts are firmlysecured.

Hinge 76, which is identical to hinge 20, is shown in detail in FIG. 7.I-Iinge 76 comprises hinge fingers 60 and 62, which are mounted uponpost 74 and between which extends hinge finger 64, which is mounted uponframe member 72. An aligned hole 66 extends through all three of thefingers and contains hinge pin 68. Cross pin 70 retains the hinge pin inplace. Hinge finger 64 stands out from base flange 78, which liesagainst web of frame member 72. Bolts 84 through web 80 and base flange78 fimtly retain hinge finger 64 in place to form a rigid structure sothat the hinged rack accurately swings upon the axis defined by thehinges.

A proper hinge is essential to proper operation of the first embodimentdescribed above and to the preferred embodiment described below. In eachof these embodiments, an arcuate finger is secured to the frame of thehinge rack and extends in an arc, which is positioned at a substantiallyconstant radius with respect to the hinge axis. Proper hinging isaccomplished by a hinge of the nature shown in FIG. 7.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, the hinged rack has a frame member 72 which ishingedly mounted upon post 74 by a pair of hinges, one of which is seenat 76. The preferred embodiment of the lock of this invention isgenerally indicated at 84 in FIGS. 8 and 9. Lock 84 comprises finger 86and locking means 88. Finger 86 has a base 90, which is secured to web80 of frame member 72 by any conventional means, such as the boltsillustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. The principal length of finger 86 isradially positioned with respect to the axis of hinge 76 and extendssubstantially 90 circumferentially with respect to that axis. The crosssection of finger 86 is in the form of a channel having flanges 92 and94 and web 96. The flanges are directed radially outward with respect tothe web and serve as guides for the locking means 88, as is hereinafterdescribed. A series of radial holes 98 are formed through web 96. Theholes are spaced along the circumferential length of the web in suchmanner as to provide appropriate locking angles for frame member 7 2.

Locking means 88 is in the form of operating rod 100, which is guided inholes in the front and back of post 74 so that it is free to move onlyalong its own axis. The portion of operating rod 100 which is behindpost 74 is bent into a U- shape to form lock pin or plunger 102. Plunger102 extends through lock member or guide 104 and is aligned with theholes 98 in web 96. The front end of operating rod 100 carries knob 106,and compression spring 108 is positioned between knob 106 and the frontsurface of post 74. Thus, operating rod 100 is urged outwardly (upwardlyas seen in FIG. 8) to urge plunger 102 into engagement with one of theholes 98. By pressing inwardly on knob 106, the plunger 102 isdisengaged from the holes to permit swinging of the rack mounted onframe member 72 and, when the knob 106 is released, the spring causesthe plunger to be urged toward return engagement with one of the holes98. Slight swinging of the rack thereupon moves the hole into alignmentwith the plunger so that the plunger engages therein for locking therack at the desired angular position. Thus, in use, the operator merelypushes knob 106, swings the rack to the approximately desired position,releases knob 106, and slightly rotates the rack in either directionuntil the plunger 102 clicks into a hole 98.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the third species of the lock of thisinvention is generally indicated therein at 1 10. Post 1 12 carriesframe member 114 thereon by means of hinge means 116. Again, framemember 114 is part of a hinged rack, similar to the frame members 72 and14 described above. Hinge means 116 is one of a pair of hinges identicalto hinge 76 or 20.

Lock has a finger 1 18. Bracket 120 is secured to frame member 114 andfinger 118 is pivotally mounted thereon by means of pivot pin 122.Finger 118 has a plurality of spaced holes 124 along its length. Theyare at appropriate spacing to provide proper lock angles for the hingedframe, as is apparent below. Locking means 126 comprises a guide or lockmember 128, which is secured to post 1 l2 and plunger or lock pin 130,which is positionable through any selected one of the holes 124 and thehole in lock member 128. Chain 132 retains lock pin 130 in the properarea. Slots through post 112 permit finger 118 to extend therethroughand serve as a rough guide for locking finger 118, so that its holes 124remain in substantial alignment with the hole in lock member 128. Thus,upon withdrawal of lock pin 130, the hinged rack can be swung to anydesired position and the lock pin 130 can then be re-inserted, with onlya small angular change in the position of the rack, to lock the hingedrack at the selected angle. In each of the embodiments, the structuresare arranged so that the rack can be locked in its position where theframe member and the post are parallel, and swung into selectedpositions. In the case of the locks 84 and l 10, the positioning of theholes is selected to provide the most desirable and useful lockingangles.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatchanges and modifications may be made without departing from thisinvention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in theappended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fallwithin the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A lock adapted to releasably secure a hinged rack member in aselected angular position relative to a fixed post member upon which therack member is hingedly mounted to swing from a position substantiallyin line with the fixed post member to a position in front of the fixedpost member, said lock comprising:

an arcuate finger fixedly mounted upon one of said members and a lockbody fixedly mounted upon the other of said members, said arcuate fingerhaving a concave side generally directed toward the axis of hinging ofthe rack member; and

said lock body comprising a clamp block, said arcuate finger lyingadjacent said clamp block, and clamp means to clamp said arcuate fingeragainst said clamp block to inhibit motion between said finger and saidlock body, said clamp means having an operating rod which operates toclamp and unclamp said arcuate finger with respect to said clamp block,said operating rod extending adjacent the front of said post so thatsaid lock can be controlled from the front of said post.

2. The lock for a hinged rack of claim 1 wherein said clamp meanscomprises an eyebolt, with the eye of said eyebolt embracing saidarcuate finger, a nut on said eyebolt engaging exteriorly of said lockbody so that, upon tightening of said nut, said eyebolt clamps saidfinger against said lock body.

3. A lock adapted to releasably secure a hinged rack member in selectedangular position relative to a fixed post member upon which the rackmember is hingedly mounted, said lock comprising:

an arcuate finger fixedly mounted upon one of said members and a lockbody fixedly mounted upon the other of said members, said arcuate fingerhaving a concave side generally directed toward the axis of hinging ofthe rack member; and

said lock body comprising a clamp block, said arcuate finger lyingadjacent said clamp block, and clamp means to clamp said arcuate fingeragainst said clamp block, said clamp means comprising an eyebolt, withthe eye of said eyebolt embracing said arcuate finger, a nut on saideyebolt engaging exteriorly of said lock body so that, upon tighteningof said nut, said eyebolt clamps said finger against said lock body,said clamp block having a slot therein, said eyebolt lying at leastpartially within said slot to prevent rotation of said eyebolt withrespect to said body.

4. The lock for a hinged rack of claim 3 further including a clamp bolt,said clamp bolt engaging abuttingly against said eye of said eyebolt tourge said eye of said eyebolt to clamp said arcuate finger against saidclamp block so that said arcuate finger can be clamped against saidclamp block both by said eyebolt and by said clamp bolt.

5. The lock hinge rack of claim 4 wherein said clamp bolt engagingagainst said eye is engaged through a nut in said lock body, said lockbody having a flange thereon to prevent clamping forces on said nut frombending said lock body.

6. The lock hinge rack of claim 1 wherein said lock includes a clampbolt engaging against said clamp means, said bolt being engaged througha nut within said lock body, said lock body having securement flangesthereon to prevent clamping loads on such nut from distorting said lockbody.

1. A lock adapted to releasably secure a hinged rack member in aselected angular position relative to a fixed post member upon which therack member is hingedly mounted to swing from a position substantiallyin line with the fixed post member to a position in front of the fixedpost member, said lock comprising: an arcuate finger fixedly mountedupon one of said members and a lock body fixedly mounted upon the otherof said members, said arcuate finger having a concave side generallydirected toward the axis of hinging of the rack member; and said lockbody comprising a clamp block, said arcuate finger lying adjacent saidclamp block, and clamp means to clamp said arcuate finger against saidclamp block to inhibit motion between said finger and sAid lock body,said clamp means having an operating rod which operates to clamp andunclamp said arcuate finger with respect to said clamp block, saidoperating rod extending adjacent the front of said post so that saidlock can be controlled from the front of said post.
 2. The lock for ahinged rack of claim 1 wherein said clamp means comprises an eyebolt,with the eye of said eyebolt embracing said arcuate finger, a nut onsaid eyebolt engaging exteriorly of said lock body so that, upontightening of said nut, said eyebolt clamps said finger against saidlock body.
 3. A lock adapted to releasably secure a hinged rack memberin selected angular position relative to a fixed post member upon whichthe rack member is hingedly mounted, said lock comprising: an arcuatefinger fixedly mounted upon one of said members and a lock body fixedlymounted upon the other of said members, said arcuate finger having aconcave side generally directed toward the axis of hinging of the rackmember; and said lock body comprising a clamp block, said arcuate fingerlying adjacent said clamp block, and clamp means to clamp said arcuatefinger against said clamp block, said clamp means comprising an eyebolt,with the eye of said eyebolt embracing said arcuate finger, a nut onsaid eyebolt engaging exteriorly of said lock body so that, upontightening of said nut, said eyebolt clamps said finger against saidlock body, said clamp block having a slot therein, said eyebolt lying atleast partially within said slot to prevent rotation of said eyeboltwith respect to said body.
 4. The lock for a hinged rack of claim 3further including a clamp bolt, said clamp bolt engaging abuttinglyagainst said eye of said eyebolt to urge said eye of said eyebolt toclamp said arcuate finger against said clamp block so that said arcuatefinger can be clamped against said clamp block both by said eyebolt andby said clamp bolt.
 5. The lock hinge rack of claim 4 wherein said clampbolt engaging against said eye is engaged through a nut in said lockbody, said lock body having a flange thereon to prevent clamping forceson said nut from bending said lock body.
 6. The lock hinge rack of claim1 wherein said lock includes a clamp bolt engaging against said clampmeans, said bolt being engaged through a nut within said lock body, saidlock body having securement flanges thereon to prevent clamping loads onsuch nut from distorting said lock body.